 Photo via. Benny Haddad |
Young Adult: What was it like to attend and graduate from a prestigious Ivy League school like Brown? |
YA: Growing up, did you know you wanted to be an actress? Or did you have other plans?
MQ: I always wanted to be an actress, so badly in fact that I was always too shy to tell anyone, for fear they would shoot me down. When you’re growing up in a small town in Texas, being a star in Hollywood isn’t exactly a “realistic” goal. Not to mention I had the pressure of my family and teachers who were counting on me to make the most of my “book smarts” and be a Surgeon or a Lawyer or Politician. I spent most of my summers at leadership camps and medical education prep courses. Acting was the last thing on anybody’s radar in terms of a career for me… but in my heart, it was the only thing I ever wanted.
YA: What was your process of getting the role of Huilen in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2, from hearing about the part, auditioning, and getting the part?
MQ: Getting cast in Twilight was one of those rare, magic moments in life where everything conspires in your favor. I had recently made the decision to “create space” for my acting career by quitting a very well paying job that took me out of town a lot on travel gigs. On the day I was supposed to be out of town for the job I had just quit, I got the audition notice from my agent – and since I was already a fan of the books I knew the character, I knew where she came from, why she came, & the vital import of her arrival. I went home to re-read again and again how Stephanie Meyer described her, and just internalized everything. On the day of the audition, I was ready. I was the first girl in the door to audition, did it once for the casting director – and she said “Wow, that was great! Thank you”. She had put me on tape for director Bill Condon who was already in Baton Rouge shooting with Kristen and Rob. They never even called me in for a second audition, just cast me right off tape! It was so amazing! And to think, if I had not quit my job, I never would have been cast in one of the greatest movie franchises of all time!!
YA: Prior to receiving the role of Huilen, had you read the books in The Twilight Saga? If not, have you read them now? And if so, what do you think of them?
MQ: I was a huge fan of the books and the movies before I was cast – there’s just something really special about the world Stephanie created. On the one hand it is surreal and magical.. and on the other, it is solidly grounded in humanity and what makes life worth living. Love, Family, Loyalty, Heartache, Struggle, Triumph and Bliss… it’s all there. And in the world of the Twilight Saga, it’s all EPIC!
YA: Just for fun—Team Edward or Team Jacob?
MQ: That’s a tough one for me now! From the beginning I was die-hard Team Edward. I never thought anything could ever sway me. But then one day on set I wasn’t looking where I was going and I literally RAN INTO Taylor Lautner! He was so beautiful in person – just RADIANT! He smiled and asked if I was ok, and I was speechless! I remember thinking to myself “Holy Crap! I think I’m Team Jacob!” Haha!
YA: What can you tell us about Huilen the character you portray in Breaking Dawn?
MQ: Huilen is South American Native – an indigenous woman of the Mapuche tribe, living in the dense jurassic jungles of Chile. She is very connected to earth, and honors humanity. She is at odds with herself and her natural instinct to kill because her human life as a Mapuche indian taught her to respect and honor humanity. It is because of this that she and her nephew Nahuel have not joined a human hunting coven, and stay to themselves hunting mostly animals but some humans as well.
YA: What’s it like to have a part in such a successful, widely-known movie franchise?
MQ: Like nothing I could have imagined! The outpouring of support and love from fans all over the world has been beyond my wildest dreams!
YA: What was your favorite part of filming Breaking Dawn? Least favorite?
MQ: My favorite part of filming Breaking Dawn was walking on set and seeing ALL the characters I had imagined in my head come to life right in front of me… all the new vampires looked so close to what I had imagined them to be! Having read how Stephanie described the characters in Breaking Dawn, and seeing all these actors walking onto set with me, I new exactly who was Mary, who was Maggie, who was Zephrina, who was Senna before they even said a word… Bill and his team just did an incredible job casting!!
As far as least favorite… well, my least favorite part about filming Breaking Dawn was having to say goodbye!! Not only was I saying to goodbye to wonderful friends I had made, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but as a fan it was also saying goodbye to the last and final movie of the original Twilight Saga… and that makes me want to cry just thinking about it!
YA: Now that Breaking Dawn is done filming, what’s next for you in your career?
MQ: I feel so blessed to say that many doors are opening for me, and there are so many exciting projects in the works. I just appeared in the pilot episode of Animal Practice, a new comedy on NBC, and I also produced and starred in a Pilot Presentation we are shopping around called “Sweet Mary & Jane”. It is making the rounds of the festival circuit currently, so it may be screening in a town near you soon! I’m also breaking into the fashion biz by partnering with Ecouture – a sustainable fabrics clothing line, to create a collection inspired by my Bohemian sensibilities. By using fabrics like organic cotton, hemp, linen, & bamboo our aim will be to create beautiful sustainable clothes that allow you to indulge in fashion without unnecessarily sacrificing our environment. (http://www.ecoutureclothing.com/) You can always visit my facebook page to find out the latest news on projects I’m working on and fun events I get invited to!https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marisa-Quinn-Actress/311739898840063
YA: Do you have any advice for people that are aspiring actors?
MQ: Follow your heart, and never let anyone or anything stop you. There will be challenges along the way that may seem insurmountable, but carry on with faith and determination, and before long you will begin to see life as you know it transforming into the life that you always dreamed of.